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John Boehner, the famously blunt ex-House speaker, left no doubt he’s not a fan of fellow Republican Ted Cruz, leaping off the sidelines of the presidential race Wednesday night to unleash a stunning verbal whip of the Texas senator, reportedly calling him Lucifer in the flesh and a miserable son of a bitch.

The longtime Ohio powerhouse had not been very outspoken on the race since retiring last year, but he held little back when asked about the Texas senator and underdog GOP presidential nominee during a forum at Stanford University.

I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life, he told, according to The Stanford Daily.

He reportedly said hes played golf with front-runner Donald Trump, describing them as texting buddies, and said his relationship with Ohio Gov. John Kasich necessitates more attempt but theyre friends and I love him. He also said hed vote for Trump in a general election but not Cruz.

In an interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly Thursday evening Cruz fired back at Boehner’s comments.

Boehners successor also made clear Thursday he does not share those views about Cruz.

I have a much better relationship with the senator, Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters, when asked about Boehners statements.

Boehners scorching position of Cruz, whose anti-ObamaCare fighting fueled the partial government shutdown in 2013, is not exactly a secret. Hes previously called him Lucifer and other selection terms. And in the Ohio primary, Boehner said he voted for former colleague Kasich.

Its unclear whether Boehners unflattering description will mean much in a GOP primary where the two resulting nominees effectively are running against the Republican establishment.

Cruz, despite trailing in the delegate count and being mathematically removed from winning the nomination outright, is campaigning hard to force an open convention, renewing attacks on his contenders as Washington insiders.

He has openly sparred with congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Both Cruz and Trump on Thursday were continuing to barnstorm Indiana, which holds a critical primary next week. Cruz has a rally in Fort Wayne and South Bend, while Trump is hosting one in Evansville before planning to close the night in California, which votes in early June.

Cruz, in the run-up to the Indiana vote, on Wednesday built the unconventional move of announcing his running mate selection, former challenger and ex-HP CEO Carly Fiorina.

Trump, at a Fox News town hall, “ve called the” announcement a waste of time , noting how far behind Cruz is in the race. But Fiorina fired back, saying the race isn’t over yet and “close doesn’t count.”

Kasich, meanwhile, is holding a town hall fulfilling Thursday in Oregon, where he is trying to stay competitive after striking a deal with Cruz to avoid Indiana and let the Texas senator take over Trump there next week.